Collapsible backstop



L. l. LUNDY COLLAPS IBLE BACKSTOP Oct. 29, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1965 Oct. 29, 1968 L. I. LUNDY 3,408,071

COLLAPS IBLE BACK STOP Filed Nov. 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LAWRENCE l- LUNDY AGENT United States Patent 3,408,071 COLLAPSIBLE BACKSTOP Lawrence I. Lundy, Box 184, Lowell, Oreg.

Filed Nov. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 510,261 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-26) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to backstop structures of the type used in athletics and more particularly to a backstop having collapsible members.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a structure substantially the same size as a standard backstop and having hingedly attached members which permit collapsing thereof to provide convenient storage within a relatively small area.

A further object is the provision of a wheel-mounted backstop structure which may be moved into position by one person to selected areas on an athletic field and thereat put into an operative configuration without assistance.

Another object is the provision of a structure of tubular frame members which lends itself to low manufacturing costs by use of commercially available fittings precluding the costly task of pipe fitting and use of threaded couplings. p

A further object is the provision of adjustable means whereby the angular relationship of the backstop members may be varied to suit the particular athletic use to which it is being put.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the backstop in a collapsed configuration and shown in broken lines positioned for moving by a single person.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the backstop operatively disposed.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 with the backstop members collapsed.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of one end of the present invention as viewed in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of hinge means interconnecting the main and a side frame.

With continuing reference to the drawings and particularly FIGURE 1 thereof, reference numeral 1 indicates generally a main frame of a planar shape of a backstop made in accordance with my invention which further includes a pair of side frames 2 and 3 and an overhead frame 4 all being of planar shape. Each of the foregoing members provide supporting framework for an expanse of suitable ball stopping material S, such as wire mesh screening, attached to the frames by spaced apart rings (not shown). The spacing of the side and overhead frames "ice from the main frame 1 is exaggerated for purposes of illustration and in actuality is of a distance less than the diameter of a baseball to prevent the passage thereof.

With particular regard to the main frame member 1, the periphery thereof comprises a pair of upright tubular components 5 and 6 and a pair of horizontal tubular components 7, preferably of aluminum or a light weight metal alloy assembled into a rectangular shape by means of elbow fittings 8 preferably of the type incorporating set screws for securing the ends of the tubular components. Indicated at 9 are four diagonal braces which are secured by sleeves 10 mounted on the tubular components of the main frame 1.

Supporting the main frame 1 in a substantially vertical position are wheels 12 journalled in suitable bearings 13 mounted at the rearward end of a pair of brackets 14. The brackets 14 are of channel form in section and extend perpendicularly from the upright pair of tubular components 5 and 6 to which they are secured as by welding at their forward ends. While the wheels 12 are shown as rotatable about a single fixed axis, it is to be understood that a castering type wheel may be provided as a matter of choice to permit movement of the backstop in a direction generally parallel to the main frame 1 while the backstop is manually supported in a slightly tilted position. Brackets 14 are reinforced against lateral deflection by brace rods 15 attached at their opposite ends to the lower two diagonal braces 9. The foregoing supporting means provides a stable carriage enabling a single individual to transport the collapsed backstop, as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 2. The widely spaced wheels 12 permits transporting of the backstop by an individual. over an irregular ground surface without danger of up-v set oroverbalancing.

Vertically spaced from top to bottom along upright tubular component 5 are hinges indicated generally at 16, 17 and 18, while similarly located along the opposite: upright tubular component 6 are hinges 19, 20 and 21..

The hinges may be generally described as gate hinges, one of which is typically shown in FIGURE 7. The hinges 16, 17 and 18 are hereinafter referred to as second hingev means, while hinges 19, 20 and21 are referred to hereinafter as first hinge means. The side frames 2 and 3 swing about hinge pins indicated at 16A-18A and 19A-21A respectively, forwardly spaced from the main frame 1 by hinge plates 16B18B and 19B-21B which engage at their outer ends corresponding plates 16C-18C and 19C-21C. The hinge plates 16B and 19B overlie their corresponding plates 16C and 19C to provide in cooperation with the remaining hinge means for locking the main and side frames against relative vertical movement. Set screws secure the hinge plates to their supporting frame components. In FIGURE 5 the distance between the axis of the upright tubular component 6 and the hinge pin 19A shown is indicated at x and is of a specific magnitude for purposes hereinafter set forth. In a like manner the hinge pins 16A-18A are preferably offset slightly further as indicated at y (FIGURE 4) to facilitate collapsing thereof in parallel relationship with the other frames. The side frame members 2 and 3 may be provided with diagonal bracing (not shown) similar to the manner in which the main frame is braced and further in continuing similarity to the main frame may incorporate elbow fittings at the juncture of its tubular components.

The overhead frame member 4 is swingably carried by the main frame 1 by means of a pair of off-center T fittings indicated at 23 and 24 comprising overhead hinge means which are rotatably mounted on the upper tubular component 7 of said main frame. The leg portions 25 and 26 of the overhead frame 4 terminate and are secured within the off-center T fittings 23-24 and are intercon- 3 nected near their ends by a crosspiece 27 fixedly secured by sleeves 28 and 29.

A pair of adjustable T fittings are indicated at 30 and 31 provided with set screws as at 30A (FIGURE 6) for securing the fittings at selected points along leg portions 25 and 26. The fittings further include sockets 32-33 pivotally mounted at and receiving the upper end of one of a pair ofsupporting rods 36. The lower ends of rods 36 are supported within like sockets 37-38 of adjustable T fittings 39-40 carried by tubular components and 6.

In operation, the backstop may be deployed at the desired location upon the playing field if necessary by a single individual followed by subsequent positioning of the side frames 2 and 3 and the overhead frame 4. When used as a baseball batting cage, the frames 2, 3 and 4 will be generally in perpendicular relationship with main frame 1 to confine deflected or fouled balls. Conversely, the frames 2 and 3 may be swung into an aligned position with the main frame 1 to provide a backstop of maximum length and height. Maximum height of the overhead frame 4 is achieved by the re-positioning of the adjustable T fittings 30 31 inwardly towards the main frame 1.

In collapsing the frame members into juxtaposed overlying relationship for transporting of the backstop, the overhead frame 4 is raised slightly permitting the ends of rods 36 to be extracted at their upper ends from the sockets 32-33 permitting the overhead frame 4 to swing downwardly into parallel spaced relationship with main frame 1. The side frame 3 is swung inwardly on the forwardly offset pivot pins 19A-21A against the now vertically disposed overhead frame 4. The closing of side frame 2 in a like manner against the previously collapsed side frame 3 prepares the backstop for tilting into the horizontal transporting position shown in broken lines in FIGURE 2. The backstop when so collapsed may be stored in the upright position which requires only a small storage area.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 1. A backstop of the type used in athletics comprising in combination:

a normally upright main frame planar in shape and alfixed with rearwardly spaced wheel components, a pair of side frames hingedly attached along opposite sides of said main frame and in operative disposition extending outwardly therefrom, said side frames being substantially equal in size and shape to said main frame,

an overhead frame also hingedly attached to said main frame and being substantially equal in size and shape to said main frame and adapted for swinging movement from an operational horizontal position into collapsed, parallel relationship with said main frame,

overhead hinge means interconnecting said overhead frame with said main frame to permit collapsing of said overhead frame into parallel juxtaposed relationship with said main frame,

first hinge. means interconnecting one of said side frames with said main frame to permit collapsing of said one of said frames into parallel relationship with said main frame and overlying in juxtaposed relation said overhead frame,

and second hinge means interconnecting the other of said side frames with said main frame to permit collapsing of said other of said side frames also into parallel relationship to said main frame and overlying said one of said side frames,

whereby all of said frames may be tipped rearwardly about the axis of the wheel components into a horizontal position for convenient transport.

2. A backstop as claimed in claim 1 wherein the perimeter of said main frame includes rectangularly disposed tubular components and said overhead hinge means moves about the major axis of one of said tubular components.

3. A backstop as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second hinge means each include hinge pins with said hinge pins of said first hinge means being spaced a shorter distance from said main frame than said pins of said second hinge means.

4. A backstop as claimed in claim 1 wherein said main frame pivotally mounts one end of a pair of supporting rods and said overhead frame includes tubular components having socket fittings engaging the other end of said pair of supporting rods slidably mounted thereon whereby the angular relationship of said overhead frame to said main frame may be varied by simple sliding repositioning of said socket fittings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,591,753 7/1926 Flaugh 273-26 2,292,109 8/1942 Engel 273-26 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner. 

